The ACE Basin is the low, watery country where the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto rivers come together and empty into St. Helena Sound, just southwest of Edisto Island. The whole basin covers about 350,000 acres of marsh, blackwater rivers, old rice fields, forests and barrier islands, and a long-running partnership of agencies, conservation groups and private landowners has protected a large share of it from development.
If you’re staying on Edisto, you’re already at its edge. Botany Bay sits inside the ACE Basin research reserve area, the boat tours that leave from Edisto Beach run on its rivers and creeks, and the federal wildlife refuge headquarters at Grove Plantation is an easy drive away. This guide sorts out the confusing names and shows you how to explore the ACE Basin from Edisto.
ACE Basin at a Glance
- What it is: The combined watershed of the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto rivers, meeting at St. Helena Sound
- Size: About 350,000 acres in all (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
- Main public lands: Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge, ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve sites, and SCDNR lands such as Botany Bay
- Closest visitor stop: The refuge’s Edisto Unit at Grove Plantation, 8675 Willtown Rd, Hollywood
- Cost: No entrance fee at the refuge or at Botany Bay
- Good for: Birding, paddling, boat tours, walking and biking dikes, history
- Time needed: Half a day for Grove Plantation; a full day if you add Botany Bay or a boat tour
- Tips: Bring insect repellent and binoculars, and check for hunt-day closures in fall and winter
What Is the ACE Basin?
“ACE” stands for the three rivers: Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto. Together they drain a broad, flat stretch of the Lowcountry between Charleston and Beaufort before reaching St. Helena Sound and the Atlantic. Much of the land was once cut into rice fields, and many of those old impoundments are now managed as wetlands for waterfowl and other wildlife.
The ACE Basin is known as a conservation success story. In 1988, state and federal agencies, nonprofit groups and private landowners formed the ACE Basin Task Force to protect the area. Estimates of how much land is now protected vary by source and year, but it’s well over 200,000 acres, much of it private land under conservation easements. That means most of the basin isn’t open to the public; you explore it through a handful of public properties and from the water.
Refuge, Research Reserve, Basin: Sorting Out the Names
People often use “ACE Basin” to mean three different things. Here’s how they fit together.
| Name | Managed by | Established | Size | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACE Basin (the region) | Many partners, coordinated by the ACE Basin Task Force | Task Force formed 1988 | About 350,000 acres | The whole landscape, mostly private |
| Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 1990 (renamed for Sen. Hollings in 2005) | About 11,815 acres in two units | Trails, dikes and the Grove Plantation visitor station |
| ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve | NOAA in partnership with SCDNR | 1992 | Nearly 100,000 acres | Research, education programs and protected sites, including Botany Bay |
The wildlife refuge has two units. The Edisto Unit, about 7,200 acres with its headquarters at Grove Plantation, is the one closest to Edisto Island. The Combahee Unit, about 4,600 acres, lies roughly 20 miles northwest of Beaufort. SCDNR describes the research reserve as the third-largest in the national system.
Visiting the Edisto Unit and Grove Plantation
The refuge’s Edisto Unit is the best place to set foot in the ACE Basin on public land. Its headquarters is the Grove Plantation house, built in 1828 as the manor of a rice plantation. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, it’s one of only three antebellum mansions in the area to survive the Civil War. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places and now serves as the refuge office and visitor station.
Hours, Fees and Contact
- Address: 8675 Willtown Rd, Hollywood, SC 29449
- Phone: (843) 889-3084
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–4:00 pm (as of 2026)
- Grounds and trails: Open to people on foot until sunset. After 4 pm and on weekends, park outside the front gate.
- Fee: None
- Closures: Closed during scheduled deer hunts; some dikes close seasonally
Confirm hours and closures on the refuge’s visitor page before you go.
Getting There from Edisto
Take SC Hwy 174 off the island and north to Adams Run, about 20 miles or 35 minutes from Edisto Beach, then follow Willtown Road. The headquarters is about 2 miles down a gravel road from the refuge entrance. Allow roughly 45 minutes to an hour each way.
What You Can Do There
Three short walking routes start near the headquarters: the Goose Pond, Alexander Pond and Perimeter Pond trails, with photo blinds at Goose Pond and Perimeter Pond. Beyond those, about 25 miles of dikes and service roads are open for walking and biking. There’s no wildlife drive, so plan to explore on foot or by bike. Bring binoculars; the managed impoundments are made for watching wading birds and waterfowl.
Exploring the ACE Basin by Water from Edisto
You don’t have to leave the island to see the ACE Basin. The South Edisto River, St. Helena Sound and the tidal creeks behind Edisto Beach are part of it, and the boat and kayak trips that leave from Docksite Road in Edisto Beach head straight into that water.
Edisto Watersports & Tackle (3731 Docksite Road, 843-869-0663) lists a 90-minute ACE Basin, dolphin and history boat tour at $50 for adults and $30 for kids 10 and under, as of 2026. It also runs roughly three-hour island excursions to Otter Island or Pine Island, timed to the tide, plus guided kayak trips. Confirm current prices and schedules with the operator. For the full list of operators and tour styles, see our Edisto eco tours and dolphin tours and kayaking tours and rentals pages.
If you’re paddling or boating on your own, respect the tides. Currents in the rivers and the sound are strong, oyster beds lurk just below the surface at mid-tide, and wind can turn St. Helena Sound rough in a hurry. Our guide to Edisto boat ramps and boating rules covers launch sites and local regulations.
You’ll often hear about Morgan Island, known as “Monkey Island,” in St. Helena Sound. It’s home to a colony of free-ranging monkeys, and landing there is prohibited. You can only view it from a boat offshore.
Botany Bay: The ACE Basin on Edisto
Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve, on the northeast corner of Edisto Island, lies within the ACE Basin research reserve area, and reserve staff run programs there. It’s free, closed on Tuesdays and hunt days, and famous for its Boneyard Beach. Everything you need is in our Botany Bay guide.
More ACE Basin Stops Within a Drive
Edisto Beach State Park Environmental Learning Center
On a rainy day, or as a primer before you head out, the Environmental Learning Center at Edisto Beach State Park has exhibits on the island and the ACE Basin, along with live animals.
Donnelley and Bear Island Wildlife Management Areas
SCDNR manages several large properties in the Colleton County part of the basin, including Donnelley WMA and Bear Island WMA. They close on hunt days, and parts of Bear Island close seasonally for nesting birds. Check SCDNR’s current regulations and hours before visiting either one.
Hunting Island State Park
Hunting Island sits at the southern edge of the ACE Basin, across St. Helena Sound from Edisto. There’s no way across the sound by car, so the drive goes around through Beaufort: about 84 miles and roughly two hours. As of 2026, the park is open 6 am–6 pm (until 9 pm during daylight saving time), and admission is $8 for adults, $5 for South Carolina seniors, $4 for ages 6–15, and free for ages 5 and under. It has about 5 miles of beach and a lighthouse with 167 steps; call the park at 843-838-2011 to ask whether the lighthouse is open for climbing. Confirm details on the official park page.
Old Sheldon Church Ruins
The brick shell of Prince William’s Parish Church stands off Old Sheldon Church Road northwest of Gardens Corner in Beaufort County, about 55 miles and 1 hour 25 minutes from Edisto Beach. Built between 1745 and 1753 in the Georgian temple form, it was among the earliest temple-form churches in English America. British troops burned it in May 1779, it was rebuilt in 1826, and it was ruined again in February 1865. That damage is traditionally blamed on Sherman’s troops, though one account from 1866 says the interior was stripped rather than burned. The ruins are listed on the National Register of Historic Places; treat them and the grounds with respect.
For more drives in every direction, see our day trips from Edisto Island.
When to Visit the ACE Basin
- Fall and winter: Cooler days, fewer bugs and wintering waterfowl on the impoundments. It’s also hunting season, so check closures at the refuge, the WMAs and Botany Bay.
- Spring: Migrating songbirds and shorebirds, nesting wading birds and comfortable temperatures. A favorite season for birders.
- Summer: Hot and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms and plenty of biting insects. Go early in the morning and be off the water when storms build.
ACE Basin FAQ
What does ACE stand for?
The Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto rivers, which meet at St. Helena Sound.
Is Edisto Island part of the ACE Basin?
Edisto sits on the basin’s northeastern edge, between the North and South Edisto rivers, and Botany Bay on the island lies within the ACE Basin research reserve area. The creeks and sound behind Edisto Beach are ACE Basin waters.
Does it cost anything to visit the ACE Basin refuge?
No. The Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge has no entrance fee. Botany Bay is free as well.
Can you drive through the ACE Basin refuge?
There’s no wildlife drive at the refuge. You can drive to the Grove Plantation headquarters, then walk or bike the trails and about 25 miles of dikes and service roads.
Can you visit Morgan Island?
No. Landing on Morgan Island is prohibited. Some boat tours view it from the water.
Plan Your Trip
Back on Edisto, keep exploring with our Edisto bird watching guide, a paddle from our paddleboarding page, or the full list of things to do on Edisto Island.